Chlorambucil plus rituximab with or without maintenance rituximab as first-line treatment for elderly chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.

In a phase II trial, we evaluated chlorambucil and rituximab (CLB-R) as first-line induction treatment with or without R as maintenance for elderly chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Treatment consisted of eight 28-day cycles of CLB (8 mg/m(2) /day, days 1-7) and R (day 1 of cycle 3, 375 mg/m(2) ; cycles 4-8, 500 mg/m(2) ). Responders were randomized to 12 8-week doses of R (375 mg/m(2) ) or observation.

Tissue microarrays in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas: are they really able to identify distinct prognostic groups in lymphomas of both nodal and extranodal origin?

Aims: Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) can be divided into different subgroups (germinal center B-cell-like [GCB] and non-GCB) according to their gene expression profiles. Immunohistochemistry has been proposed as a surrogate for identifying these subgroups, but data about its efficacy in providing prognostic information are conflicting.

Methods And Results: This study retrospectively analyzed a series of 105 DLBCL, defined as GCB and non-GCB according to CD10, bcl-6, and MUM1 expression.

Primary follicular and marginal-zone lymphoma of the breast: clinical features, prognostic factors and outcome: a study by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group.

Background: Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) of low-grade histology is a rare disease. This multicentric retrospective study was carried out to determine clinical features, prognosis and relapse.

Patients And Methods: Patients with histologically proven, previously untreated follicular or marginal-zone PBL (MZL PBL) diagnosed from 1980 to 2003 were included in the study.

Magnetic resonance imaging of primary breast lymphoma.

Purpose: Primary lymphomas of the breast (PBNHL) are uncommon. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of these malignancies can be relevant in establishing the extent of disease and planning the appropriate therapeutic strategy, usually represented by chemo- and radiotherapy, rather than surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess MRI features of PBNHL.

Is there a role for 'modified VAD' in the treatment of multiple myeloma?

VAD, (Vincristine, Doxorubicin and Dexamethasone) was initially proposed as a salvage therapy for myeloma patients in whom prior alkylating agent therapy failed, although in recent years VAD has been surpassed by novel combination therapies with new biological agents such as thalidomide (and its derivative, lenalidomide) and bortezomib. After the excellent results obtained by the novel agents, VAD can no longer be proposed in preparation to autologous transplantation, although there are still indications that VAD remains useful and clinically relevant in the initial treatment of symptomatic multiple myeloma.